Getty/Jeff Schear
In a note that has been circulating online, a Florida location of the pizza chain issued strict rules for employees scheduling work as the state prepared for Hurricane Irma.
"If evacuating, you will have a 24-hour period before storm 'grace period' to not be scheduled," the note reads. "You cannot evacuate Friday for a Tuesday storm event! Failure to show for these shifts, regardless of reason, will be considered a no call/no show and documentation will be issued."
The storm is not expected to arrive in Jacksonville, where this particular Pizza Hut is located, until Tuesday.
The note also says that, in the event of an evacuation, workers "MUST" return within 72 hours.
Many people criticized the note as a restriction that could endanger workers as Floridians attempted to evacuate the area.
A Pizza Hut spokesperson told Business Insider that one manager at a single location was responsible for the note, which violated the chain's guidelines. When the franchise group in charge of the location found out about the note, all employees were contacted to emphasize that their health and safety were the top priority, according to the spokesperson.
"We absolutely do not have a policy that dictates when team members can leave or return from a disaster, and the manager who posted this letter did not follow company guidelines," a Pizza Hut spokesperson said in a statement. "We can also confirm that the local franchise operator has addressed this situation with the manager involved."
Hi @pizzahut this is cruel pic.twitter.com/veQ2gRR7uC
- UHWP 🏠❤️ (@uhwpa) September 9, 2017
Pizza Hut demanding Florida workers risk their lives for min wage. GTFO. H/T @KatiSipp #HurricaneIrma #Fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/RQPLLlBVU2
- Fight For 15 (@fightfor15) September 9, 2017
Truvon Shim went through this after Sandy--and it made him join the strikes https://t.co/5I3AZew3Ls https://t.co/ZbTgfXg4eP
- Sarah Jaffe (@sarahljaffe) September 10, 2017
Pizza Hut's awesome Irma policy. 😒 Not a good look, @pizzahut pic.twitter.com/0xH0NBFDvY
- Jennifer Tanko (@imjohnnyasana) September 11, 2017